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Jul 31, 2011
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troops in afghanistan. the top question among them is one a top u.s. military officer wouldn't answer: will we get paid?" end of quote. admiral mullen went on to say, "i don't know the teens that question, but either way, those soldiers" he said, "all of us must continue to work every day." mr. president, this is really unacceptable. a country as rich and powerful as ours, men and women with bombs going off around them, shouldn't worry about whether this country will leave them high and dry. this afternoon i asked those who said they will never compromise on any terms to think about who their stubbornness will really hurt: seniors, soldiers, and others. i've spoken to the vice president this morning, a couple of times. he's home -- of course we have to be hopeful -- that we're close to an agreement with republican leaders. the framework of this agreement is based on new ideas and some old ideas. after speaking with the republican leader, mitch mcconnell, this morning, we're cautiously optimistic. there are a number of issues yet to be resolved and we m
troops in afghanistan. the top question among them is one a top u.s. military officer wouldn't answer: will we get paid?" end of quote. admiral mullen went on to say, "i don't know the teens that question, but either way, those soldiers" he said, "all of us must continue to work every day." mr. president, this is really unacceptable. a country as rich and powerful as ours, men and women with bombs going off around them, shouldn't worry about whether this country will...
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Jul 1, 2011
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afghanistan. at the same time, the d.c. deval qaeda and terrorist groups affiliated also require pakistan to be able to defeat them at home. but that is not easy. it's not easy simply because it has been said by many american officials osama bin laden was founded pakistan there's no evidence anybody in the pakistani government had anything to do with the presence there but obviously he had an impact and here's my answer to that. 180 million people in pakistan most of them overwhelmingly muslim. a lot of them shared views and ideologies and belief systems that make them sympathetic to radical groups and that is the effort of trying to change the discourse of pakistan, changing the environment, the economy, it's been important and that cannot be done, you can't lead the $2 billion changeover but the slide and make them stop thinking that the restoration is the best course of muslims in the world to become so with that kind of -- those kind of numbers, it is if 1% of the population is sympathetic to
afghanistan. at the same time, the d.c. deval qaeda and terrorist groups affiliated also require pakistan to be able to defeat them at home. but that is not easy. it's not easy simply because it has been said by many american officials osama bin laden was founded pakistan there's no evidence anybody in the pakistani government had anything to do with the presence there but obviously he had an impact and here's my answer to that. 180 million people in pakistan most of them overwhelmingly muslim....
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Jul 30, 2011
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our national security, not talking about a terrorist organization, not talking about wars in iraq and afghanistan, not talking about natural disasters, disease, epidemics, not famine. i'm talking about our national debt. our national debt is the threat. it is the great e threa greatesr national security. i'll tell you this isn't a problem for one party, the other party, it is a problem for all of us as americans. now, i'm not the only one that's saying it. actually, the chairman of the -- of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral mike mullen, has said the most significant threat, the most significant threat to our nation's security is our debt. let me repeat, the most significant threat to our national security is the debt. you may notice, mr. president, that admiral mullen makes no mention at all of the debt ceiling. the presiding officer: would the senator from wyoming cease for a minute. could we have order, please. mr. barrasso: thank you, mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from wyoming may continue. mr. barrasso: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, as i was saying, you will n
our national security, not talking about a terrorist organization, not talking about wars in iraq and afghanistan, not talking about natural disasters, disease, epidemics, not famine. i'm talking about our national debt. our national debt is the threat. it is the great e threa greatesr national security. i'll tell you this isn't a problem for one party, the other party, it is a problem for all of us as americans. now, i'm not the only one that's saying it. actually, the chairman of the -- of...
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Jul 26, 2011
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there are 145,000 troops deployed in iraq and afghanistan who are working long hours every day in the desert heat to protect our freedom. to make sure that we are doing everything we can to root out the terrorists that have attacked america. these men and women all raise their right hand and volunteered to go to defend this nation. the very least that we can do while we are in this kind of budget negotiation, which is making a lot of people nervous -- i have faith that we're going to do the right thing in the end, but it's not clear yet. we're pea a week away. -- we're a week away. so i don't think we should make these people think about whether it's going to happen and if there's going to be delay in a paycheck. so i hope that we'll be automobile to bring this bill up. i can guarantee, if the majority leader will bring up my bill, it will pass. it has 80 cosponsors. the new bill is the same thing except that it just makes the debt payment the priority, which you would hope would not have to be done, but, nevertheless, let's assure that our debtors know that we're going to pay the int
there are 145,000 troops deployed in iraq and afghanistan who are working long hours every day in the desert heat to protect our freedom. to make sure that we are doing everything we can to root out the terrorists that have attacked america. these men and women all raise their right hand and volunteered to go to defend this nation. the very least that we can do while we are in this kind of budget negotiation, which is making a lot of people nervous -- i have faith that we're going to do the...
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Jul 22, 2011
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over the entire decade the cost of the afghanistan and iraq war about is about $1.3 trillion. and that is a lot of money.rs again that's over ten years over a decade. this year alone the deficit is expected to be 1400,000,000000 this -- 1.4 trillion. be the deficits this year will be the larger than the cost of iraq and afghanistan over ten years. so the driving force behind the deficit isn't above war in iraq and afghanistan.y it represents only 1% of the the total outlays over the last ten ye years.to thetal total amount of money spent the president -- president obama office took office is $8.5 trillion. three by the end of his first three years in office we will have t added 5 trillion to our gross federal debt. that is a stunning number.bushad bush had a widely criticized and in many ways brightly criticized for hundred 50 billion-dollar deficit. since president obama$4illion has beena has b in office it's been 1.2, 1.3its -- i looks like this year it will be $1.5 trillion. each year more than double that amount. we are borrowing to class at half of what we're spending we'
over the entire decade the cost of the afghanistan and iraq war about is about $1.3 trillion. and that is a lot of money.rs again that's over ten years over a decade. this year alone the deficit is expected to be 1400,000,000000 this -- 1.4 trillion. be the deficits this year will be the larger than the cost of iraq and afghanistan over ten years. so the driving force behind the deficit isn't above war in iraq and afghanistan.y it represents only 1% of the the total outlays over the last ten ye...
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Jul 31, 2011
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for one thing, we don't know what the future obstacles in afghanistan and iraq are. and we've got to rely -- retain a certain level of stability on the ground in afghanistan, and i have met with afghan leaders and women just in the last couple of weeks, and they also agree that, if america leaves precipitously, without knowing what the stability on the ground is -- and we certainly haven't certain stability lately with the assassinations of mayors and leaders, including the half-brother of the leader of afghanistan -- that's not stability; it doesn't say that they are ready yet. so having $1 trillion of cuts could undermine our national security. we don't know that we can count on that. i hope we can. i hope we can leave with the right circumstances on the ground, but that is the only criteria that we should use and not cutting a budget that we know is a promise and not a commitment that we are assured that we can keep. most disturbing of all in the reid plan, the only possible justification for a $2.4 trillion increase in borrowing authority is to avoid doing this a
for one thing, we don't know what the future obstacles in afghanistan and iraq are. and we've got to rely -- retain a certain level of stability on the ground in afghanistan, and i have met with afghan leaders and women just in the last couple of weeks, and they also agree that, if america leaves precipitously, without knowing what the stability on the ground is -- and we certainly haven't certain stability lately with the assassinations of mayors and leaders, including the half-brother of the...
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Jul 18, 2011
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ira paychecks for troops in the afghanistan and iraq and bases around the world would stop. the faa could shut down. so could the fbi and the cia ant border crossings could close.foa safety inspections of food americans eat and cargo that enters our ports could hault. literally every function of sec government could seize. social security checks, payments to our veterans. no there would be no discussion on which operations personal or essential. all the payments would very likely. stopped. some have said we could prioritize which bills to pay. even if that would irreparably damage the nations reputation and the global economy and the global community which it would, is also a complete fiction. our government won't even behe able to cover the b bills due on august 3. it will simply run outun of monr and because we will be in default and our credit rating trash we will be able to borrow money -- even if we wanted to. bad is the picture secretary geithner panned and like if said it is graham. this understandagues this. they know what is kno at stake.t it is not blanket for sure
ira paychecks for troops in the afghanistan and iraq and bases around the world would stop. the faa could shut down. so could the fbi and the cia ant border crossings could close.foa safety inspections of food americans eat and cargo that enters our ports could hault. literally every function of sec government could seize. social security checks, payments to our veterans. no there would be no discussion on which operations personal or essential. all the payments would very likely. stopped. some...
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Jul 27, 2011
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we have to remember these young men in afghanistan, and to a lesser extent in iraq, but in afghanistan, they're agrarian, so when the planting and harvesting seasons come and go, the attrition rates wax and wane accordingly. the general in charge of our iranian training monitors the situation. i don't have the number, but it's in the number of 10,000 and growing in the literacy rate, the soldiers we've accrued learning english. you can develop it, and it's a little more challenging to develop the leaders to lead them. >> if you could get to my office maybe kind of what you see those trend lines look like over the last several years and where we're going in literacy atta attainment within our security force that afghanistan has, as well as the retention rate? can you do that? >> yes. the last time i touched them, the trend line on attrition was testing positive, which means we were gaining control of it. the trend line on literacy training was also training positive, but it's a very -- you know, that is a -- an enormous slope to climb for all the reasons you suggested. but both trends a
we have to remember these young men in afghanistan, and to a lesser extent in iraq, but in afghanistan, they're agrarian, so when the planting and harvesting seasons come and go, the attrition rates wax and wane accordingly. the general in charge of our iranian training monitors the situation. i don't have the number, but it's in the number of 10,000 and growing in the literacy rate, the soldiers we've accrued learning english. you can develop it, and it's a little more challenging to develop...
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Jul 14, 2011
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reduce government spending at all levels, including the military, as we bring our troops home from afghanistan. and, yes, it needs to look at the money that we spend through our tax code -- and we've talked about this over and over again. we need to have a balanced approach, a credible approach to manage our debt. and that should be our first option. but under no circumstances should we allow america to default on its obligations, causing harm to every american family. i urge-colleagues to put the national -- i urge my colleagues to put the national interests first, to take off the table the default on our debt, take that off the table, let's put the national interest first, work together to bring about a credible plan to manage our national debt. and with that, mr. president, i would yield the floor and suggest the an -- before i do that, i would suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:
reduce government spending at all levels, including the military, as we bring our troops home from afghanistan. and, yes, it needs to look at the money that we spend through our tax code -- and we've talked about this over and over again. we need to have a balanced approach, a credible approach to manage our debt. and that should be our first option. but under no circumstances should we allow america to default on its obligations, causing harm to every american family. i urge-colleagues to put...
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Jul 14, 2011
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let's start with afghanistan and iraq. we're spending $168 billion in iraq and afghanistan this year alone. $168 billion. this year, fiscal year 2011, we're spending more than $13 billion to train the iraqi and afghan security forces. $13 billion. okay. what did we spend here in america to retrain our workers so they can get new jobs? less than $10 billion. we're spending more money to train afghan and iraqi forces, security forces than we're spending to retrain our own workers all over america. 24 million americans unemployed or underemployed and yet we're spending $168 billion this year on afghanistan and iraq. again, i applaud the president for the actions he's taken, but quite frankly, mr. president, they don't go far enough. the president should have a faster timetable for our troops to get out of afghanistan. i've said is that publicly many times. if you really want to save some money, save that $1 million that it costs to keep one soldier in afghanistan and get them back here. we went to afghanistan to get the talib
let's start with afghanistan and iraq. we're spending $168 billion in iraq and afghanistan this year alone. $168 billion. this year, fiscal year 2011, we're spending more than $13 billion to train the iraqi and afghan security forces. $13 billion. okay. what did we spend here in america to retrain our workers so they can get new jobs? less than $10 billion. we're spending more money to train afghan and iraqi forces, security forces than we're spending to retrain our own workers all over...
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Jul 20, 2011
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president to sustain our military force io afghanistan. that is literally what we'ren do taught about here in this debate. the american people are turning to come to understand it because when you first ask a person, tht obvious answer is no, are you crazy, senator? by what i want one of them in this country? we need more less stack, notts e more. when you go to the point ofjusto explaining that this is to pay d for things we authority -- that's the authority incurred, it isn't just a wage of war. 65a it is a debt incurred to pay fot medicare. we staaidl a to 65-year-olds acr america, you get medicare that will be there when you need pay. when you go to the hospital and turn your bills, will pay thejor hospital and we borrow money to do it. yield? >> thank you. i just walked in i appreciate w your comments about where weereh had h were. of 10 years ago we had a budget surplus in this country as you , recall. we had a number quarter after quarter of economic growth than we know the coming outcome when you have economic growth obviously the
president to sustain our military force io afghanistan. that is literally what we'ren do taught about here in this debate. the american people are turning to come to understand it because when you first ask a person, tht obvious answer is no, are you crazy, senator? by what i want one of them in this country? we need more less stack, notts e more. when you go to the point ofjusto explaining that this is to pay d for things we authority -- that's the authority incurred, it isn't just a wage of...
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Jul 27, 2011
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everybody knows that we are winding down the war in afghanistan and iraq. so, here we are six days away, six days waerbgs and we -- six days away, and we still have members of congress saying we have to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. we have members on the other side who are saying that we have to raise taxes. we have a president of the united states who so far has refused to come forward with a detailed plan of his own. that's called leading from behind. it's time, it's time we listened to the markets. it's time we listened to our constituents. but most of all, it's time we listened to the american people and sit down and seriously negotiate something before we face a situation where we are depriving the american people of the fundamental right of having a government that doesn't deprive them the essential services, goods and entitlements which they have earned. madam president, i yield the floor. i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. corker: i'd ask unanimous consent
everybody knows that we are winding down the war in afghanistan and iraq. so, here we are six days away, six days waerbgs and we -- six days away, and we still have members of congress saying we have to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. we have members on the other side who are saying that we have to raise taxes. we have a president of the united states who so far has refused to come forward with a detailed plan of his own. that's called leading from behind. it's time, it's...
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Jul 26, 2011
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the american people would begin to recognize these savings from withdrawing from iraq and afghanistan. and essential education, job creation, housing, and environmental investments where america's economic recovery and for our strong economic future would be protected from the slashing cuts proposed by the house republicans. the irony is, republican leaders previously have backed all the spending reductions called for in leader reid's plan. now, i don't agree -- and i suspect all of us don't agree with all aspects of this proposed solution. but we're not going to have 100 solutions on this floor. we're going to have one that we can vote on. i wish this would have included new revenue, especially by ending such costly and outdated tax benefits as those still enjoyed by the biggest oil companies to help us pay off our debt even more quickly. i'd like to help pay for the debt incurred by the inexcusable earlier decisions to enter two wars without paying for them. and i continue to believe the surcharge for the wealthiest would mean that they would pay more of their fair share after so ma
the american people would begin to recognize these savings from withdrawing from iraq and afghanistan. and essential education, job creation, housing, and environmental investments where america's economic recovery and for our strong economic future would be protected from the slashing cuts proposed by the house republicans. the irony is, republican leaders previously have backed all the spending reductions called for in leader reid's plan. now, i don't agree -- and i suspect all of us don't...
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Jul 22, 2011
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the current inventory is getting old and worn down from iraq and afghanistan. some equipment can be refurbished with life extension programs, but there is no getting around the fact that others must be replaced. when it comes to our military modernization accounts, he said the proverbial low-lying or low-hanging fruit, those weapons and other programs considered most questionable have not only been plucked, they have been stomped on and crushed. what remains are much-needed capabilities relating to our air superiority, our mobility, long-range strike, nuclear deterrents, maritime access, space and cyberwarfare, ground forces, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that our nation's civilian and military leadership deemed absolutely critical. and he gave examples of a new tanker. he noted the ones we have are twice as old as many of the pilots who are flying them. a new generation strike fighter, the f-35. he said we have got to build more ships. the size of the navy has sunk to the lowest number since prior to world war ii. the army and marines, doing th
the current inventory is getting old and worn down from iraq and afghanistan. some equipment can be refurbished with life extension programs, but there is no getting around the fact that others must be replaced. when it comes to our military modernization accounts, he said the proverbial low-lying or low-hanging fruit, those weapons and other programs considered most questionable have not only been plucked, they have been stomped on and crushed. what remains are much-needed capabilities...
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Jul 21, 2011
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paychecks for soldiers, in afghanistan and iraq and at bases around the world conceivably wouldn't go out. f.a.a. towers could shut down. border crossings could close. operations at the f.b.i. and the c.i.a. would be put at risk. safety inspections of the food that we eat and the cargo that enters our ports could halt. and the resulting spike in interest rates would ironically make our debt even harder to tackle because each 1% rise in interest rates alone would result in $130 billion in increased interest payments on our national debt each year. perhaps, most importantly, hard-working american families would also feel the crunch. a spike in interest rates would effectively force a tax on all americans and american businesses due to increased consumer costs. just as important, failure to raise the debt limit would lock up credit markets because the u.s. would no longer be seen as a reliable credit risk. coincidentally, mr. president, yesterday an important consumer protection law which senator lugar and i introduced and passed and you helped us with on the floor here last year went in
paychecks for soldiers, in afghanistan and iraq and at bases around the world conceivably wouldn't go out. f.a.a. towers could shut down. border crossings could close. operations at the f.b.i. and the c.i.a. would be put at risk. safety inspections of the food that we eat and the cargo that enters our ports could halt. and the resulting spike in interest rates would ironically make our debt even harder to tackle because each 1% rise in interest rates alone would result in $130 billion in...
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Jul 5, 2011
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they came to afghanistan not because they were attacked but because we were attacked. they were our friends, they're our allies. they've been with us trying to make sure afghanistan never goes back into the darkness, a place to attack us or them again. so when they need us, i would tell president obama, now's not the time to sit on the sidelines. i know we're a war weary nation, but there is no upside to qadhafi staying in power. that is a national security nightmare for this country. here's a recent headline. "qadhafi threatens to attack european over airstrikes. colonel qadhafi has threat inned to carry out attacks against homes, offices in europe unless nato calls off the airstrikes in libya." he actually means it. hitler meant it. he means it. so we should be talking about the debt. we're not. we should be taking a stand against qadhafi in an effective way. and as you said, senator mccain, we're leading from behind. and i just cannot tell you how upset i am with policies coming from this administration that are sending a signal to our allies that we're not as relia
they came to afghanistan not because they were attacked but because we were attacked. they were our friends, they're our allies. they've been with us trying to make sure afghanistan never goes back into the darkness, a place to attack us or them again. so when they need us, i would tell president obama, now's not the time to sit on the sidelines. i know we're a war weary nation, but there is no upside to qadhafi staying in power. that is a national security nightmare for this country. here's a...
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Jul 27, 2011
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as we draw down in afghanistan, we will even lose that option. i'm sure you have seen noting that the united states may be killing terrorists, but we are not trying very hard to capture them. most because gitmo has been taken off the table. capturing and interrogating terrorists remains one of the best ways to get actionable intelligence and prevent future threats. again, mr. olsen, i congratulate you on your nomination, and these issues need to be lean on the table and need to be fleshed out because the direct form of contact with this committee is going to be you in so many instances, and we need to certainly have that feeling of trust that we have developed and need to develop stronger over the coming years while you are in this position. so thank you, madam chair. >> thank you mr. vice chairman. now i would like to recognize the distinguished senator from north dakota, chairman of the budget committee and the democratic side, kent conrad. >> mr. chairman, welcome. >> thank you, chairman feinstein. thank you, vice chairman chambliss, senator c
as we draw down in afghanistan, we will even lose that option. i'm sure you have seen noting that the united states may be killing terrorists, but we are not trying very hard to capture them. most because gitmo has been taken off the table. capturing and interrogating terrorists remains one of the best ways to get actionable intelligence and prevent future threats. again, mr. olsen, i congratulate you on your nomination, and these issues need to be lean on the table and need to be fleshed out...
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Jul 19, 2011
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afghanistan, iraq, pakistan, libya, and soon as mr. leon panetta says, we'll be fighting in iran. we have military operations all over the middle east. why can't we divert some of those funds, cut some of those wars and not cut social security because social security never impacted on our debt. social security was funded all along so why are we cutting social security? >> guest: well, let me just assure you we are not going to cut social security, okay? i think there might be efforts in the house to cut social security, and it might possibly pass, although i certainly know that the cut cap and whatever it's called won't pass because it requires a two-thirds vote and you need 50 democrats to vote for it, and i don't believe we'll have 50 democrats to vote for it, but i guarantee you if any measure passed the house of social security, it would not be taken up in the senate, and if it did, i believe the president would veto it. you know, you're a retiree, paid into social security, all of your working life, and you deserve to continue to have that guarantee for you, and then i agree
afghanistan, iraq, pakistan, libya, and soon as mr. leon panetta says, we'll be fighting in iran. we have military operations all over the middle east. why can't we divert some of those funds, cut some of those wars and not cut social security because social security never impacted on our debt. social security was funded all along so why are we cutting social security? >> guest: well, let me just assure you we are not going to cut social security, okay? i think there might be efforts in...
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Jul 28, 2011
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an example, the war in afghanistan. some of the most conservative senators on the other side of the aisle not only want us to wage this war but to stay there and keep spending money. know what it costs? it costs $10 billion a month for us to protect our troops in afghanistan. for every dollar that we spend, every dollar that we spend, whether it's on the war, on food stamps, on missiles, on highways, for every dollar we spend we borrow 40 cents. we shouldn't be borrowing all this money, but we do because congress says there are certain things we've got to do as a nation. many of the same senators who have said to the president of the united states don't withdraw the troops from afghanistan, keep them there even longer, are now coming to the floor and saying to the president but we're not going to join in asking for the authority that you need to provide that money for those troops. now the senator from pennsylvania has come here the second day and given his take on what would happen if congress fails to extend the debt
an example, the war in afghanistan. some of the most conservative senators on the other side of the aisle not only want us to wage this war but to stay there and keep spending money. know what it costs? it costs $10 billion a month for us to protect our troops in afghanistan. for every dollar that we spend, every dollar that we spend, whether it's on the war, on food stamps, on missiles, on highways, for every dollar we spend we borrow 40 cents. we shouldn't be borrowing all this money, but we...
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Jul 21, 2011
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new zealand is a country that is in enormous partnership with us at this time, assisting in afghanistan, engaged in transpacific trade deliberations with us, and in many, many other ways contributing to one of the strongest and best partnerships we have on a global basis. therefore, i would ask unanimous consent that the senate stand in recess subject to the call of the chair so that colleagues might welcome the prime minister to the floor of the united states senate. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, the senate stands in recess subject to t twitter.com c-span wj is how you can reach us. one of the headlines this morning. the deficit cutting plan too much too late. talks between various members. the government reporter can we first go on to the gang of 6 proposals? if from bloo bloomberg news. is that what they are thinking on capitol hill today? >> yes. the gang of six came out with their proposal. it's fairly sweeping. i think there's a sense more among -- there's a sense among some lawmakers that they are trying to sign on to this. there was a letter that
new zealand is a country that is in enormous partnership with us at this time, assisting in afghanistan, engaged in transpacific trade deliberations with us, and in many, many other ways contributing to one of the strongest and best partnerships we have on a global basis. therefore, i would ask unanimous consent that the senate stand in recess subject to the call of the chair so that colleagues might welcome the prime minister to the floor of the united states senate. the presiding officer: is...
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Jul 21, 2011
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over the entire decade, the cost of afghanistan and iraq wars is about $1.3 trillion. and that is a lot of money. again, that's over ten years, over a decade. this year alone, the deficit is expected to be $1.4 trillion. the deficit this year will be larger than the cost of the iraq and afghanistan wars over ten years. the driving force behind our deficit is not the wars in iraq and afghanistan. it's just not. war costs represent only 4% of total outlays over the last ten years. the total amount of money spent since president obama took office is $8.5 trillion. by the end of his first three years in office, we will have added $5 interest to our gross federal deficit. these are stunning numbers. bush had a widely criticized $450 billion deficit. since president obama has been in ofsz the deficits -- in office the deficit looks like it will be $1.5 trillion. we are borrowing too close to half of what we're spending every single day. in the last few years, discretionary spending, non-defense discretionary spending in the last two years increased 24%. 12% a year on average
over the entire decade, the cost of afghanistan and iraq wars is about $1.3 trillion. and that is a lot of money. again, that's over ten years, over a decade. this year alone, the deficit is expected to be $1.4 trillion. the deficit this year will be larger than the cost of the iraq and afghanistan wars over ten years. the driving force behind our deficit is not the wars in iraq and afghanistan. it's just not. war costs represent only 4% of total outlays over the last ten years. the total...
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Jul 6, 2011
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they came to afghanistan not because they were attacked, but because we were attacked. they were our friends. they are our allies. they've been with us making sure afghanistan never goes back into the darkness, a place to attack us or them again, so when they need us, i'll tell president obama now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. i know we're a war-weary nation, but there's no upside to gadhafi staying in power. that is a national security nightmare for this country. here's a recent headline, "gadhafi threatens to attack european over air shakes and carry out attacks against homes, offices, families in europe unless nato stops its campaign of air strikes against his regime in libya." he actually means it. hitler meant it. he actually means it. we should be talking about the debt. we're not. we should be taking a stand against gadhafi in an effective way, and as you said, senator mccain, we're leading from behind, and i just cannot tell you how upset i am with policies coming from this administration that are sending a signal to our allies that we're not as relia
they came to afghanistan not because they were attacked, but because we were attacked. they were our friends. they are our allies. they've been with us making sure afghanistan never goes back into the darkness, a place to attack us or them again, so when they need us, i'll tell president obama now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. i know we're a war-weary nation, but there's no upside to gadhafi staying in power. that is a national security nightmare for this country. here's a recent...
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Jul 19, 2011
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forces afghanistan. the president expressed his full confidence in general allen as he begins this important assignment and that he said he looks forward to working closely with him. and with that i will take your questions. >> i want to follow-up on something the president said. he claimed to call speaker boehner and the other leaders after the house vote to resume meetings here, is that right? should we respect resumption a daily meeting? >> no, i think the president will call speaker boehner, based on what he said. he will call the leaders and arrange for a time for a meeting to happen here at the white house. is not a series of meetings budget sometime in the next few days. >> he also made note at the end there that is in progress or agreement with the concept of six or seven senators, how is the white house expects what this again is think to have an impact on the house republican? >> the news from the gang of six/seven italy a significant because it dramatized and reinforces the fact that the only
forces afghanistan. the president expressed his full confidence in general allen as he begins this important assignment and that he said he looks forward to working closely with him. and with that i will take your questions. >> i want to follow-up on something the president said. he claimed to call speaker boehner and the other leaders after the house vote to resume meetings here, is that right? should we respect resumption a daily meeting? >> no, i think the president will call...
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Jul 6, 2011
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right now there are 140,000 brave americans risking death and injury in afghanistan and iraq. do we reduce our responsibility to them because republicans don't want to burden millionaires? additionally, payments to doctors under medicare, medicaid could be suspended. where do the seniors and needy americans turn then in the event of an urgent medical problem? at a time when nearly 14 million americans are out of work and struggling to keep food on the table, unemployment benefits could lapse. we're talking about the possibility of people without incomes, people unable to sustain their basic needs. in addition to destroying the safety net for ordinary americans, a default crisis would likely threaten america's position as the economic giant of the world, as we see the possibility of widespread panic on wall street and the damage to the credit markets that could lead to the loss of millions of jobs across the country. the question has to be answered, mr. president: why are the republicans willing to walk on this economic tightrope to win favor among wealthy contributors? it's be
right now there are 140,000 brave americans risking death and injury in afghanistan and iraq. do we reduce our responsibility to them because republicans don't want to burden millionaires? additionally, payments to doctors under medicare, medicaid could be suspended. where do the seniors and needy americans turn then in the event of an urgent medical problem? at a time when nearly 14 million americans are out of work and struggling to keep food on the table, unemployment benefits could lapse....
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Jul 27, 2011
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forces in iraq and afghanistan, saving $1 trillion in the process. our troops in the middle east deserve our admiration and praise for so successfully carrying out their missions. we must, however, continue to press for a strategy that will bring our troops home as soon as we safely can. the reid deficit plan would find an additional $40 billion in savings by cutting fraud and abuse in tax compliance and a number of non-defense federal programs and $60 billion in other savings, including cutting unnecessary spending on agricultural subsidies and auctioning off electromagnetic spectrum that the government currently holds. finally, by cutting the government by over $2 trillion, we'll have to borrow less money than anticipated and that will save an additional $400 million -- sorry, $400 billion in projected interest costs. in total, the senate democratic plan on which we will vote would cut the deficits by $2.7 trillion over the next ten years. while senator reid's proposal would not address the tax gimmicks and loopholes throughout our tax code that he
forces in iraq and afghanistan, saving $1 trillion in the process. our troops in the middle east deserve our admiration and praise for so successfully carrying out their missions. we must, however, continue to press for a strategy that will bring our troops home as soon as we safely can. the reid deficit plan would find an additional $40 billion in savings by cutting fraud and abuse in tax compliance and a number of non-defense federal programs and $60 billion in other savings, including...
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Jul 29, 2011
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senate say to the president of the united states, as an example, we want you to continue to wage war in afghanistan at the cost of $10 billion a month, this president knows that he will have to borrow about $4 billion a month to meet that congressional appropriation. you see, we borrow about 40 cents for every dollar we spend. similarly, when it comes to the payments that we make to our veterans, who are disabled, we have promised them we will pay you, because you served our country and you lost a limb or you were injured and we will compensate you for that loss for the rest of your life. we need in making that commitment that we're also making a commitment to borrow the money necessary to do it. so periodically a president will come to congress and say, i understand our obligations which you have sent to me and i have approved, and now i ask you to extend my authority to borrow the money to meet those obligations. that has happened 89 times since 1939. since we passed this law, presidents of both parties have come to congress and asked for that authority. and aceman as i mentioned, not d congress
senate say to the president of the united states, as an example, we want you to continue to wage war in afghanistan at the cost of $10 billion a month, this president knows that he will have to borrow about $4 billion a month to meet that congressional appropriation. you see, we borrow about 40 cents for every dollar we spend. similarly, when it comes to the payments that we make to our veterans, who are disabled, we have promised them we will pay you, because you served our country and you...
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Jul 6, 2011
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-- or afghanistan, then iraq. both wars totaling well over a trillion, $2 trillion. that will ultimately, both of those, the tax cuts and the wars, accounts for about $7 trillion in deficits in 2009 and going forward. now, madam president, the facts are clear. the tax cuts that president bush put in place contributed to the deficit and the revenues have got to be addressed if we're employing to go forward -- if we're going to go forward and deal with this. federal revenues today, the money the government takes in, is at its lowest level since 1950. we've had a 60% reduction in revenue and a 60% increase in expenditures. and right now, we're at the lowest level of revenue taken in that we've been at since the 1950's. and there are only about 14% of the total g.d.p. the fact is that the last five times we balanced the budget, those revenues were about19% or 20% of g.d.p. so here we are at 14%. we've balanced the budget five times previously. and the revenues were at about 19.5% to 20% of g.d.p. doesn't that tell us
-- or afghanistan, then iraq. both wars totaling well over a trillion, $2 trillion. that will ultimately, both of those, the tax cuts and the wars, accounts for about $7 trillion in deficits in 2009 and going forward. now, madam president, the facts are clear. the tax cuts that president bush put in place contributed to the deficit and the revenues have got to be addressed if we're employing to go forward -- if we're going to go forward and deal with this. federal revenues today, the money the...
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Jul 22, 2011
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awareness of other aspect of the media and those who acknowledge currently we have soldiers fighting in afghanistan and people don't seem to forget that. i would not say any prime minister is not fighting for the right people. continues to fight for the right people. >> how would any of those prime ministers ask as editor or chief executive how often or would they ever ask you not to publish a story? would they ask you to spike a story? would that happen? >> i can't remember an occasion of prime minister asked that. >> politicians generally do that? >> no. i can remember many occasions when a cabinet minister or politician or prime minister was very unhappy with stories we were running and -- not that they would ask us not to. >> if they had you would have been interested anyway? >> if the story was true and accurate, no reason for a prime minister -- that is why we have a free press. >> final question. still a feeling that in some way you had a close relationship with the prime minister. the allegation seems to be is no different -- the benefit of what people need to see. you have a close relation
awareness of other aspect of the media and those who acknowledge currently we have soldiers fighting in afghanistan and people don't seem to forget that. i would not say any prime minister is not fighting for the right people. continues to fight for the right people. >> how would any of those prime ministers ask as editor or chief executive how often or would they ever ask you not to publish a story? would they ask you to spike a story? would that happen? >> i can't remember an...
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Jul 25, 2011
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you could pull out of iraq, afghanistan and southwest asia tomorrow. you could end up eliminating all congressional earmarks and you could eliminate all foreign aid which people think is a big number but it's not, that's about 15 to 20% of the problem. the government has grown too big, promised too much, waited too long to restructure. yes, we're going to have to have more revenues as compared to historical levels but we need to go about it in an intelligent way that will make our system fairer, more equitable, more comparative and it will promote job growth and promote innovation. last i think this, on the comeback america initiative, preemptive framework, there's an additional $500 billion for critical investments over the next two years in order to help the economic recovery and to deal with unemployment. nonetheless, the net spending reductions over the next 10 years are over 3 trillion. so, yes, we need to do some things to make sure we recover and get unemployment down but if we don't end up putting our finances in order we're going to have much
you could pull out of iraq, afghanistan and southwest asia tomorrow. you could end up eliminating all congressional earmarks and you could eliminate all foreign aid which people think is a big number but it's not, that's about 15 to 20% of the problem. the government has grown too big, promised too much, waited too long to restructure. yes, we're going to have to have more revenues as compared to historical levels but we need to go about it in an intelligent way that will make our system...
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Jul 28, 2011
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amount, clearly larger than the boehner proposal, even though some would argue that it's the iraq and afghanistan war winddown savings that you would get, but whatever it is, it is larger than the house proposal and use that as the first cut by lifting the debt ceiling. but there would be a sequence of events that would happen after that to avoid what the senate democrats do not want, that the markets and the rating agencies cause the debt instruments, the u.s. treasury bills, to be downgraded, there needs to be certainty for those rating agencies for the united states government debt. and it could be achieved this way. that you have a brac-like committee, that being a committee that would be composed equally of republicans and democrats that would come up with a package that would then come back to each house, no amendments, up-or-down vote. but that the fail-safe backup in case that that committee were not able to come to agreement, or in the event that it came back to both houses and one of the houses did not pass it, that you would then have the mcconnell proposal which is that the president
amount, clearly larger than the boehner proposal, even though some would argue that it's the iraq and afghanistan war winddown savings that you would get, but whatever it is, it is larger than the house proposal and use that as the first cut by lifting the debt ceiling. but there would be a sequence of events that would happen after that to avoid what the senate democrats do not want, that the markets and the rating agencies cause the debt instruments, the u.s. treasury bills, to be downgraded,...
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Jul 26, 2011
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reluctant to advocate for people who are being persecuted because they're christians whether it be in afghanistan, pakistan or egypt. and the two questions that i have, how many connections have there been -- convictions have there been over the last several years, do you have any -- and how many occasions do you know where the american embassy has advocated for these cases? generally, when there's a problem, members go to the embassy, they advocate it. how many times has the american embassy participate and been involved in any different cases? >> thank you very much, mr. wolf. there have been, in the 50 cases i was involved with personally, there were two investigations, neither investigation resulted in any legal process, so there are no convictions, um, resulting as of, as of complaints to the effective kidnappings, forced marriages and forced converses of coptic christian women. to my knowledge, also, and according to my research the u.s. embassy has not advocated on behalf of these women. >> one last thing, mr. chairman. as you have this record, i urge you to send it to leon panetta. our mi
reluctant to advocate for people who are being persecuted because they're christians whether it be in afghanistan, pakistan or egypt. and the two questions that i have, how many connections have there been -- convictions have there been over the last several years, do you have any -- and how many occasions do you know where the american embassy has advocated for these cases? generally, when there's a problem, members go to the embassy, they advocate it. how many times has the american embassy...
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Jul 4, 2011
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india has some being hunted down more or less, and native indians in brazil, even in afghanistan, they call the areas where they are doing all the bombing, they are tribal areas, and i wondered if you could just speak to the fact that indigenous people all over the world are under attack, and is there some way that we can get this out into the press so understand that this should be stopped immediately. >> guest: well, what you're saying is true. i was just in norway, and i did a performance with asami person and a woman from india. she's a naga, that's the name of their indigenous nation under attack by the burmese, and i think what it is is there's always the land hunger, the need -- taking over for land, and the indoing nows people are -- indigenous people are vulnerable because they're in isolated areas or places they were sent that suddenly have resources available that others want. for instance, chevron has in, i think, it's costa rica has just covered the people, the land, the water, and the animals in oil so what we think about is the oil in the gulf, but we don't realize that
india has some being hunted down more or less, and native indians in brazil, even in afghanistan, they call the areas where they are doing all the bombing, they are tribal areas, and i wondered if you could just speak to the fact that indigenous people all over the world are under attack, and is there some way that we can get this out into the press so understand that this should be stopped immediately. >> guest: well, what you're saying is true. i was just in norway, and i did a...
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Jul 29, 2011
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40% of the cuts are completely counterfeit. 1 trillion of harry reid's cuts come from drawing down in afghanistan and in iraq. and while were all like to end these conflicts as soon as we possibly can, and with success, harry reid's saving assuming the cost of the war our endeavor. woman already start to draw down in both of these regions. it's almost like saying that we will save trillions of dollars by promising not to invade canada. it's never going to happen. i can't support any plan that begins with the assumption that we have to raise the debt limit and yet doesn't offer a fundamental restructuring of government spending habits. i won't do it. and while i embrace the principles of cut, cap and balance, the bill simply did not go far enough to fundamentally restructure the way that this city stands the american people's money. and it allowed for an increase in the debt limit, something i simply won't do. i also believe that we must repeal and defund obamnicare as part of any solution to our current debt crisis. by? because obamacare is the largest spending and entitlement program ever passed
40% of the cuts are completely counterfeit. 1 trillion of harry reid's cuts come from drawing down in afghanistan and in iraq. and while were all like to end these conflicts as soon as we possibly can, and with success, harry reid's saving assuming the cost of the war our endeavor. woman already start to draw down in both of these regions. it's almost like saying that we will save trillions of dollars by promising not to invade canada. it's never going to happen. i can't support any plan that...
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Jul 3, 2011
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even in afghanistan, they call the areas where they're doing all the bombing the tribal areas. and i was wondering if you could just speak to the fact that indigenous people all over the world are under attack. and is there some way we can get this out into the press so they can understand that this should be stopped immediately? >> guest: well, what you're saying was true. i was just in norway and did a performance with a sammi person and a notga woman in india who were under attack by the burmese. and what i think it is there's always the land hunger, the taking over for land. and the indigenous people are vulnerable because they're in isolated areas or they're in places that they were sent that suddenly have resources available that others want, for instance, chevron, you know, has been -- i think it's costa rica has just covered the people of the land, the water and all the animals in oil. and so we think about -- what we think about the oil in the gulf but we don't realize that's happening in our regions as well. so it should be published. it should be in papers. and it's
even in afghanistan, they call the areas where they're doing all the bombing the tribal areas. and i was wondering if you could just speak to the fact that indigenous people all over the world are under attack. and is there some way we can get this out into the press so they can understand that this should be stopped immediately? >> guest: well, what you're saying was true. i was just in norway and did a performance with a sammi person and a notga woman in india who were under attack by...
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Jul 22, 2011
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over the entire decade, the cost of afghanistan and iraq wars is about $1.3 trillion. and that is a lot of money. again, that's over ten years, over a decade. this year alone, the deficit is expected to be $1.4 trillion. the deficit this year will be larger than the cost of the iraq and afghanistan wars over ten years. the driving force behind our deficit is not the wars in iraq and afghanistan. it's just not. war costs represent only 4% of total outlays over the last ten years. the total amount of money spent since president obama took office is $8.5 trillion. by the end of his first three years in office, we will have added $5 interest to our gross federal deficit. these are stunning numbers. bush had a widely criticized $450 billion deficit. since president obama has been in ofsz the deficits -- in office the deficit looks like it will be $1.5 trillion. we are borrowing too close to half of what we're spending every single day. in the last few years, discretionary spending, non-defense discretionary spending in the last two years increased 24%. 12% a year on average
over the entire decade, the cost of afghanistan and iraq wars is about $1.3 trillion. and that is a lot of money. again, that's over ten years, over a decade. this year alone, the deficit is expected to be $1.4 trillion. the deficit this year will be larger than the cost of the iraq and afghanistan wars over ten years. the driving force behind our deficit is not the wars in iraq and afghanistan. it's just not. war costs represent only 4% of total outlays over the last ten years. the total...
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Jul 28, 2011
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everybody knows that we are winding down the war in afghanistan and iraq. so, here we are six days away, six days waerbgs and we -- six days away, and we still have members of congress saying we have to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. we have members on the other side who are saying that we have to raise taxes. we have a president of the united states who so far has refused to come forward with a detailed plan of his own. that's called leading from behind. it's time, it's time we listened to the markets. it's time we listened to our constituents. but most of all, it's time we listened to the american people and sit down and seriously negotiate something before we face a situation where we are depriving the american people of the fundamental right of having a government that doesn't deprive them the essential services, goods and entitlements which they have earned.objectio. cork coirkd objection. mr. corker: madam president, i'm here today with a sense of optimism. i know that all of us are very concerned about what's happening in our c
everybody knows that we are winding down the war in afghanistan and iraq. so, here we are six days away, six days waerbgs and we -- six days away, and we still have members of congress saying we have to pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. we have members on the other side who are saying that we have to raise taxes. we have a president of the united states who so far has refused to come forward with a detailed plan of his own. that's called leading from behind. it's time, it's...
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Jul 29, 2011
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afghanistan is not settled, mr. president, and we have to have a certain level of stability on the ground in afghanistan or we will have wasted the billions that we have already spent and the lives of our military personnel in afghanistan because it will go back to the way it was before, a center for terrorism that will come to our country or can come to our country. it did once already and we have been over there to try to wipe out al qaeda and the taliban, which has been in league with al qaeda. we have been over there losing american lives and spending american taxpayer dollars to protect our country from another 9/11. to say that we're going to cut $1 trillion in the future over the next ten years when we aren't placing the emphasis on what are the conditions on the ground is not sound policy and it's certainly not sound national security policy. so that's illusory. and then the other parts of the cuts that i think are very hard to decipher are cutting waste, fraud and abuse, which we all want to do, but we don'
afghanistan is not settled, mr. president, and we have to have a certain level of stability on the ground in afghanistan or we will have wasted the billions that we have already spent and the lives of our military personnel in afghanistan because it will go back to the way it was before, a center for terrorism that will come to our country or can come to our country. it did once already and we have been over there to try to wipe out al qaeda and the taliban, which has been in league with al...
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Jul 20, 2011
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president, to borrow the money to sustain our military forces in afghanistan. that is literally what we're talking about here in this debate. the american people are starting to come to understand it because when you first ask a person do you want to extend the debt ceiling, the obvious answer is no, are you crazy, senator? why would i want more debt in this country? we need less debt, not more. don't you get it? understandably, that's the public reaction, but when you go to the point of explaining that this is to pay for things we have already -- debts we have already incurred -- and it isn't just to wage a war. it's a debt incurred to pay for medicare. we said to 65-year-olds across america you get a health insurance plan called medicare and it will be there when you need it. when you go to the hospital and turn in your bills, we'll pay that doctor and pay that hospital, and we borrow money to do it. mr. brown: will the assistant majority leader yield? mr. durbin: i will. mr. brown: i just walked in. i appreciate your comments about where we were. 10 years ag
president, to borrow the money to sustain our military forces in afghanistan. that is literally what we're talking about here in this debate. the american people are starting to come to understand it because when you first ask a person do you want to extend the debt ceiling, the obvious answer is no, are you crazy, senator? why would i want more debt in this country? we need less debt, not more. don't you get it? understandably, that's the public reaction, but when you go to the point of...